Oil purifying system for internal combustion engines



Aug,v 11,1931'.

"R RAGAN -oI'L PURIFYING SYSTEM F011 fINTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINESF11edNov; 16.1925 s sheets-sheet 1 .bmw

gvwentoz Agfa/DH @6A/1f DIL -PURIFYING SYSTEM FORINTERNAL coMBUs'rIoNENGINES Filednov. 16".` 1925" s sheets-sheet` 2 R. RAGAN 1,818,429

OIL PURIFYING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL vCOMBUSTVION ENGINES Aug. l1, 1931.

s Sheets-sheet s l Filed Nov. 16,#.1925

gmwwlloz RALPH @G4/14 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITEDSTATES RALPH RAGAN,OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA OIL PURIFYING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL `C'OMBUSTONENG-INES Y. Application filed November 16, 1925. Serial No. 69,518.

This invention relates tol an improvement in lubricating systems forinternal combustion engines, and more particularly to a system forclearing lthe lubricating fluid of 5 foreign rmatter such as dirt anddust, water,

gasoline, etc.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to separatel foreignmatter from the oil before the oil is introduced to the bearings,

and to cause this separation process to be automatic, and continuousVwhile the engine is running.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a purification system,based upon the principle of centrifugal separation, in which acentrifugal separator is mounted on the crank shaft, has oil deliveredthereto, separates the foreign matter from the oil, and delivers cleanoil to the engine bearings, such system being characterized by the factthat the oil delivered to and operated upon by the separator is notunder pressure, the pure oil removed from the separator however, be- Fing delivered to the engine bearings under f pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an oil purificationsystem, in which thefconstruction of the parts is simple and economical,and such that the system can be adapted to internal combustion enginesas now constructed with very little, if any, changes in the enginestructure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugaloilpurification system in 'Y' which the level of pure oil, which is takenfrom the separator, remains substantially constant irrespective of theengines speed, so that oil will be delivered'to the bearings from theseparator, irrespectivey of whether the engine -be turning over slowlyor at higher speeds.

` 4Afurther object of the invention is to provied an oil purificationsystem in which a cen-V trifugal separatoris mounted on the crank shaft,such separator having an inner receiving ring -to which unclarified oilis delivered, and in which initial separation takes place, `an outerseparating ring to which the partially purified oil is delivered fromthe inner receiving ring and in which final separation takes place, andasystem of pumps and oil lines in which oillis lifted by one pump to thereceiving ring from the oil sump,

pure oil is taken from the separating ring sediment to va chamberwherethe sediment Ais collected.

Another Object ofthe invention is to combine with the centrifugalseparator which rotates with the crank shaft, a stationary collectingring which receives the sediment and delivers it to the settlingchamber.

.Another objectof the invention is to provide the centrifugal separatorwith means for also aerating the oilto thereby volatilize Whatevergasoline'content itmay have. y

With these and otherjobj ects in view, which will become more apparentas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the con`struction, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed. 4 f In the drawings, which illustrates one Vofthe embodiments of my invention,

Figure l represents a diagrammatic view in elevation of an internalcombustion en` gine equipped with an oil purification sys-Y temconstructed according to my invention, a portion of thelengine casingbeing broken away and thefinvention illustrated in position onytheengine, partsbeing shown in sec tion. f Figure 2 represents asideVelevational vieW,

takenon the irregular line 24-2 of Figure 3, o f a portion of the crankshaft and associated parts of the engine, with .the invention in placethereon.l 4 y Figure k3 represents a transverse sectional view taken onthe lineS-S of Figure 2,1ooking in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Fig. i represents a sectional view through one of vthe oilr ductsbetween theinner and outer-rings of the separator, taken Onthe' linel--i of'Figurev 5. l

Figure 5 represents an enlarged face view of a portion of the separator.

Figure 6 represents a view in perspective of a portion of the separatorand one of its supporting feet, looking from the opposite side withrespect to Figure 3.

Figure 7 represents a face View of the separator looking from theopposite side with respect to Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the engine is indicatedgenerally at 5, the oil pan at 6, and the crank shaft at 7.

The central crank shaft bearing is indicated at 8, and the cross webwhich supports it at its upper side is indicated at 9. The connectingrod bearings at each side of the central crank shaft bearing areindicated at 10, and the associated connecting rods at 11. `Mounted onone of the crank shaft counter weights 12 is an annulus 13, the internaldiameter of which may be sufliciently large to allow the annulus beingplaced on the crank shaft from one end thereof by manipulating it aroundthe throws and counter weights of the crank shaft. The annulus islocated concentric with the aXis of the crank shaft, and may be attachedto the selected counter weight by means of the diametrically opposedfeet 14, which at their inner ends may have flanges 15 abutting againstthe cheeks o-f the crank shaft and secured thereto in any suitablemanner, the outer ends of the feet being secured in suitable manner tothe face of the annulus, as indicated at 16.

The peripheral portion of the annulus is flanged over to provide aseparating ring 17, which has an inwardly extending wall 18 parallelwith the plane of the annulus, such wall being of sufficient depth, andbeing suficiently spaced from the annulus -to provide a ring of thedesired capacity. Placedwithin the separating ring and spaced therefromand concentric therewith, is a receiving ring 19, which may be castintegrally with the annulus andthe outer ring, (if these parts areform-ed of a casting) or which may be made separately and secured totheannulus, if desired.' y y,

The receiving ring19 communicates at two or more points, `eqaully spacedaround the Center of the crank shaft, through ducts 2O with the,separating ring, such ductsv communicating with the separating ringnear the-bottom (i. e., the greater diameter) of the latter., andwiththereceiving ring 19 near the top (i.`e., the lesser diameter) ofthe latter.

During the operation of the engine, oil from the sump formed in thecrank case 6. is lifted by means of a pump 21 (being one of a pair ofpumps driven in suitable manner) and delivered through a line 22 to therotating receiving ring 19, such line 22, if desired, having anover-turned end 23 which directs the oil toward the bottom of the ring.The centrifugal action brought to bear upon the oil thus collected inthe receiving ring, separates heavier matter such as dirt, bits ofmetal, water, etc., from the oil in the receiving ring, the separatedmatter collecting near the bottom of the ring, and the lighter oil andlighter impurities collecting near the top (that is the portion of thering of less diameter). The partially purified oil thus collected nearthe top of the ring over-flows through the ducts 2O and passes, undercentrifugal action, into the outer separating ring 17 near the bottomthereof.

Further purification of the oil under centrifugal separation here takesplace, the lighter impurities which over-flowed from the receiving ringbeing collected in the bottom ofthe separating ring, andthe pure oilcollecting near the top thereof. The pure oil thus separated is pickedup by a stationary scoop 24 so located as to skim the pure oil from thesurface of the oil collected in the separating ring, and is deliveredfrom such scoop through a line 25 to the second pump 26 from which it isdriven under pressure through a line 27 to a point of distribution fromwhich, by the various lines such as 29, 30 and 31, it is forced underthe pressure of the pump 26 to the various points desired such forinstanc-e, as the cam shaft bearing indicated at 32, valve mechanism(not shown) located substantially at 33, and crank shaft bearing 34. Itwill be understood that the distribution of the oil after it leaves thepump 26 is merely shown diagrammatically, and as an illustrativeexample, the` particular arrangement of distributing points and pipesand portionslubricated, being chosen to suit the requirements of thetype of-engine with which the invention is used, in any particularinstance.

Surrounding the separator and mounted on the stationary parts of theengine .in any suitable manner, is a stationary collecting ring 35,which communicates through a line 36 withthe chamber 37 formed in theoil pan 6, which chamber may be covered with a screen 38 of desirediineness of mesh.

When the motor stops, the oil and sediment collected in the inn-er andouter rings automatically dumps out of theserings and is caught in thecollecting ring 35, which is sufficiently wide and deep, and thencefinds its way through the' line`36 into the chamber 37. The chamber 37acts as a settling chamber whereinthe heavier impurities will collect atthe bottom under the action of gravity, the pure loil at the topover-flowing through the wire mesh 38 into the main sump.y

small quantity of oil and impurities may gather at the bottom portionsof the rings 17 and 19 when the motor stops, but this small collectionis quickly'distributed around the bottom of the rings 'when the motoragain starts up. To prevent any of this collection from being introducedinto thescoop 24, the

latter is placed at a point above the level of the oil and sediment thatmay collect in the ring 17 when the latter comes to a stand-still, asclearly shown in Figure 3.

In order to aerate the oil over-flowing from the rings 17 and 19 duringthe operation of the device, the outer or separating ring 17 may beprovided on the outer face of its wall 18 with a series of fins orblades 39, which will br-eak up and aerate th-e over-flow, while at thesame time throwing it against the collecting ring 35, thus tending tovolatilize any gasoline or lighter distillates which may have gotteninto the oil.

The capacity of the pump 21 is such that oil in excess quantities isdelivered to the rings, and this, together with the vertical position ofthe rings insures that the heighth of the oil in the outer ring 17, asregulated by the heighth of the wall 18, will be constant, whether theengine be turning over at a low, or at a high rate of speed, and hencethe fixed level of oil in the outer ring insures that oil will beconstantly delivered to the scoop 24, and thence to the pressure pump26, to be fed under pressure to the bearing, irrespective of the rate ofspeed of the engine.

It will be observed that the oil purification system provided by myinvention, utilizes an open sided separator, the oil being delivered tothe separator not under pressure, hence no bearings or packed joints arerequired to introduce oil to or remove it from the separator, andfurther this arrangement is taken advantage of by allowing of theVautomatic cleaning of the separator, by dumping its contents, at eachstoppage of the engine.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for purpose ofillustration, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, butthe appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, inview of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an internal combustion engine, thecombination with the lubricating system, of an annulus mounted forrotation on the crank shaft, an inner receiving andseparating ring, andan outer separating ring carried by the annulus, means for introducingoil into the receiving and separating ring, means affording passage ofoil from near the inner edge of the receiving ring to near the outeredge of the separating ring, means for removing oil from near the inneredge of the separating ring, a collection chamber, and a stationarycollecting ring surrounding the annulus and communicating with thecollection chamber.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the' crank shaft, an innerreceiving and separating ring and an outer separat-ing ring carried bythe annulus and communicating one with the other, means for introducingoil into the receiving and separating ring, means for removing oil fromthe separating ring, a collection chamber, and a stationary collectingring surrounding the annulus and communicating with the collectionchamber.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system, of an annulus mounted for rotation with the crankshaft, an inner receiving and separating ring and an outer separatingring and an outer separating ring carried by the annulus andcommunicating one with the other, means for introducing oil into thereceiving and separating ring, means for re moving oil from theseparating ring, a pump for forcing such removed oil to desired parts ofthe engine, and means for receiving and collecting the over-flow fromthe innerV and outer rings.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system, of an annulus mounted for rotation on the crankshaft, an inner receiving and separating ring carried by the annulus andhaving its inner peripheral side open, a separating ring carried by theannulus and surrounding the receiving and separating ring and also havnp ing its inner peripheral side open, stationary means for introducingoil into the open side of the receiving and separating ring, meansaffording passage of oil from near the inner edge of the receiving andseparating ring to near the outer edge of the separating ring, andstationary means for removing oil from near the inner edge of theseparatingring.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system, of an inner receiving and separating ring and anouter separating ring mounted for rotation with a shaft of the engine,said rings having their inn-er peripheral sides open, the open sideofthe separating ring facing the closed bottom of the receiving andseparating ring, means affording communication between the rings, meansfor introducing oil into the o-pen side of the receiving and separatingring,` and means for removingoil from the open side of the separatingring.

6. In `an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system, of a plurality of rings adapted to be rotated by theengine, said rings having their analogous sides open, means forintroducing o-il to one of the rings through its open sid-e, means forremoving oil from another ring through its open side, and meansaffording communication between the rings for the passage of oil.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system, of

an annulus mounted for rotation with the crank shaft of the engine, aninner receiving and separating ring and an outer separating ring carriedby the annulus and communicating one WithV the other, means forintroducing oil into the receiving and separating ring, means forremoving oil from the separating ring, and means for receiving andsegregatin'g-the over-flow from the rings.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With a lubricatingsystem, of a plurality of rings having inner open peripheral sides, saidrings being mounted concentrically for rotation With the crank shaft,means aiording communication between the rings7 means for introducingoil to the innermost ring through its open side, means for removing oilfrom the outermost ring through its open side, a collecting chamber, anda collecting ring communicating With the chamber and surrounding thesaid rings.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With thelubricating system, of a plurality of rings having inner open peripheralsides, such rings being mounted for rotation with a shaft of the engine,means aifording communication'between the rings, means for introducingoil to the innermost ring through its open side, means for removing oilfrom the outermost ring through its open side, and means for receivingand segregating the over-flow from the rings.

l0. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With thelubricating system, of a. plurality of rings adapted to be rotated bythe engine, such rings intercommunicating, means for introducing oil toone of the rings, and means for removing oil from another of the rings.

ll. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with thelubricating system of a plurality of open-sided rings adapted to berotated by the engine, such rings intercommunicating, means forintroducing oil to one of the rings through its open side, and means forremoving oil from another of the rings through its open side.

l2. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with the lubricating system of` a plurality ofintercommunicating rotatable rings, a pump for delivering oil to one ofsuch rings in excess quantity not under pres sure, means for removingoil from another of the rings, a distributing system o1'r oil lines, anda pump to which the removed oil is delivered and adapted to deliver suchre' moved oil to the distributing system under pressure. y

In testimony WhereoiE I hereunto aiiix my signature.

RALPH HAGAN.

